The Inside Line Podcast - Vital MTB

Downhill destroyer,  Aaron Gwin, takes another stab at the dreaded 17 during a Frameworks test camp in Southern California. Hard to believe the first 17 Qs we did with Aaron was 15 years ago!
Question asked
1. You wake up late and are in rush to get your day going. You stop by a Starbucks to get your caffeine fix. What drink are you ordering?
2. How do you pass time on long flights? Movies, reading, sleeping, catching up on emails??
3. What was your best trick during your bmx days?
4. What was the most money you made at a single race from bonuses? (you can leave out the team, year, or brands if you’d like)
5. If you had it all to do over again, would you rather have been a professional supercross/outdoor rider than a professional mountain biker?
6. Who has the best style at World Cups these days?
7. Favorite and least favorite World Cup track?
8. How many riders come to Windrock and ask for free shuttles?
9. Best place to eat out if you’re at Windrock?
10. Of the titles you hold, rank these from least to most favorite: bike park owner, race promoter, professional mountain biker, airbnb host, sports commentator.
11. What do you miss most about living in SoCal?
12. What’s your game plan going into Red Bull Hardline?
13. You’re considered one of the greatest downhill racers of all time. Who do you consider to be the best downhill racer?
14. We know you’ve always been a bit of a gym rat. Give us a few of your favorite exercises that translate well to on the bike performance?
15. How many elite men and elite women should there be in finals at a World Cup?
16. We’ve always admired your ability to capitalize on the success you’ve had as a racer with the many financial endeavors you’ve taken on. Do you have any money/business advice for other athletes?
17. Wouldn’t you rather be building trails at Windrock than answering these stupid questions?

Can Neko handled the dreaded 17? Watch on YouTube, too.

We’ve been minimally interested in the 32-inch wheel topic. It was more fun to hypothesize what they’d ride like when it was a distant rumor. Now that Maxxis has 32-inch tires you can buy, and many brands are currently developing literal wagon wheel models, we don’t know how to feel. Luckily, we tagged in Maxxis Brand Manager, Aaron Chamberlain, to fill us in on the impetus of the 32-inch revolution and the main arguments around their implementation. 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
05:39 The 32-Inch Wheel Debate
10:11 Mechanical vs. Wireless Drivetrains
17:01 The Push for 32-Inch Wheels
17:41 Technical Challenges in Tire Production
22:59 Market Response and Anticipation
26:06 Benefits and Applications of 32-Inch Wheels
33:51 Potential Pros and Cons of Larger Wheels
40:36 Looking Ahead: The Evolution of Bike Design
51:09 The 32-Inch Wheel Trend: Implications and Insights
53:51 Weight Considerations: Performance vs. Practicality
58:43 Community Insights: The Biking Culture and Preferences
01:01:46 Tire Talk: Preferences and Innovations

Happy New Year errybody! In this episode, we go through the components, places to ride, and habits Vital users listed as their favorites in 2025. We then touch on what we enjoyed in 2025 and what we are looking forward to in the year ahead.

Shoutout to Vital user Ervan for starting the forum thread “2025: Things I loved this year” and giving us the idea for this week's podcast.

Read the forum thread in discussion - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2...
Chapters
00:00 New Year Reflections and Family Time
11:08 Retirement in Action Sports: A Bittersweet Transition
13:38 Women in Racing: Breaking Taboos
16:49 Health Reflections: The Impact of Illness
19:46 Excitement for Upcoming Events
24:03 Dak's New Journey with Dream Team
36:05 Community Engagement and User Feedback
53:25 Trends in Mountain Biking: E-bikes and Upgrades
01:13:50 Product Discussions and Industry Insights
01:26:23 Wheels and Brakes: Performance Insights
01:38:13 Starting a Business: Flowcraft and Community Engagement
01:47:32 Reflections on Racing and Industry Changes
01:52:30 Engaging the Community: The Podcast Forum

The news of Aaron Gwin making a new home on Frameworks TRP yesterday left a lot of unanswered questions. Thankfully the man himself was down for a candid chat to discuss his new future.
Cover photo by Callie Horwath
Topics
0:00 - Intro and What About Crestline?
9:34 - History with Neko
12:26 - How Can Frameworks Afford Gwin?
15:38 - Does Gwin Have to Race Now?
19:14 - Dealing with So Many Product Changes
32:31 - Does the Frameworks Accomodate Gwin's Riding Style?
43:00 - Being on a Team with Asa Vermette, Battling the Kids
49:50 - Game Plan for 2026 Races
53:55 - Gwin's Training Regimen
1:00:35 - Involvement with Lake Placid World Cup and TN National in 2026?
1:06:30 - Racing Hardline Tasmania
1:11:32 - Aaron Gwin 2011 vs. Aaron Gwin 2026?